Sara Joyce: the artist’s DIY lifestyle and personal aesthetic continue to inspire

Sara Joyce (1923-2011) was born in California and grew up during the Great Depression, learning the virtue of thrift and the skills to be self-reliant, such as cooking and sewing, during her early years.

Sara had a life-long relationship with fabric. She was always looking at it, gathering it, touching it. She used only natural fibers—nothing synthetic—and had a particular love for Harris Tweed wool. She made everything she herself wore, as well as many of her children’s clothes, coats, and Halloween costumes.

She found her inspiration in outdated Vogue pattern books, folk patterns and ethnic costumes, among other things. She always subscribed to Women’s Wear Daily (along with sixteen other publications she subscribed to!) and often tore out pictures for her journals to inspire her later, along with sketches of designs she created.

Sara also made items for their home, such as rugs, draperies and slip covers.  Her daughter, Heidi, tells of seeing a photo one day. “Both my mom and I were wearing dresses she had made, sitting on a sofa covered in a slip cover made by her, that matched the hand-made draperies on the windows,” she said.

Sara was very intentional in what she designed and what she wore.  No one really knows the thinking behind creating and wearing a dress with the inside seams on the outside but she did this before it became a trend to show the raw edges!  She most often wore leggings under her wrap skirts and would even paint her shoes to give them a little extra punch. She worked very well with color, even going so far as to change the color of her bobbin threads for a subtle effect.

This is the premier showing of Sara’s personal clothing, giving a rare glimpse into a very private side of this amazing artist’s DIY lifestyle and personal aesthetic.